Widespread rain and hailstorms across the district shattered hopes of farmers who had the good fortune of ground water facility that enabled good crop. According to preliminary reports of the Horticulture Department, orchards in about 400 hectares in five mandals suffered heavy damage.
Speaking to The Hindu , Ch. Satyanarayana, Assistant Director of the Horticulture Department, said banana orchards in the Yadiki mandal were the most affected. Mr Sathyanarayana said field visits to the damaged orchards would start from tomorrow .
Watermelon and papaya orchards were damaged in Gooty, Kanaganapalli, Chennekothapalli (CK palli) and Ramagiri mandals. In all, according to preliminary estimates total loss incurred by farmers was put at Rs 4 crore.
According to preliminary estimates paddy in more than 250 hectares in five mandals of the district was damaged. Reports of damage to standing groundnut crop were also reported from Gooty mandal where groundnut is grown in a few hectares in rabi.
Meanwhile, the district recorded 341.15 mm of rainfall, with the Gorantla mandal recording 36.20 mm followed by Kanaganapalli and Puttaparthy mandals at 27 and 26 mm. In spite of heavy rain, the district continues to reel under deficit of minus 41.6 percent of the normal rainfall.
Meanwhile, heavy rain lashed Chittoor town and surrounding areas for about two hours. With thick cloud formation since morning, the town witnessed sudden downpour.
The municipal officials sent teams to low-lying areas to drain out rain waters. Damage to the mango gardens is yet to be analysed, horticulture officials said.
